The Tampa Bay Lightning got a huge win on Friday night, defeating the Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers 4-3 in overtime. Ryan Malone scored the game-winner with three minutes left in overtime to send the fans at the Forum home happy.
It was an active third period that saw the Lightning rattle off two straight goals to go from a one-goal deficit to up a score heading into the final ten minutes of the game. Teddy Purcell evened it up at 2-2 just three minutes into the final period. Then, the NHL's leading scorer Steven Stamkos added his 45th goal of the season to give the Bolts the 3-2 lead. Carl Hagelin would go to the box for a double minor after catching Malone with a high-stick, and the Bolts had a golden opportunity to salt it away. But Brandon Dubinsky would score a late goal to send it to overtime. The new Tampa defense was huge in this one, holding the Rangers to just 19 shots.
The Lightning now travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes on Saturday looking to make it four in a row.
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